“The wedding?” I asked.
“The rehearsal. The rehearsal dinner. The bachelorette party. And the wedding. I can’t believe I have to walk down the aisle with Derrick Richardson. He’s so full of himself.”
“Derrick? Arrogant?”
“Yes.” Sienna rolled her eyes. “I’ve never met anyone so stuck up. He hardly gives me the time of day.”
“So because he doesn’t fawn over you like the other guys do, you think he’s arrogant?” Cassie’s voice trembled, a sure sign she was angry. “Maybe you need to look in a mirror, Sienna. There’s only one arrogant person here, and it’s not the best man.”
“I’m going to be the bigger person and pretend I didn’t hear that ugly remark.” Sienna reached into her purse and came out with a tube of lipstick. She smeared it across her lips and smacked them. Loudly.
I fought the temptation to say more. Instead, I paid the balance of the bill myself, and Cassie, Gillian, Brianna, and I opted to walk next door to the frozen yogurt shop to cool down. Sienna obviously didn’t care to be with us, anyway.
Gillian remained quiet until we all took a seat at a table. Then she looked at us with a troubled expression. “Did you know that Sienna paid for a private room at Valentino’s?”
I shook my head. “No. I mean, I knew she had someplace special in mind, but every time I asked her about plans for the bachelorette party, she said she wanted it to be a surprise.”
“But . . . Valentino’s?” Brianna looked concerned. “That place is over-the-top expensive. And the cover charge is ridiculous.”
“Right.” I paused to think through my response. “But I guess it debunks the theory that Sienna has completely fallen down on the job.”
“Still . . . Valentino’s?” Cassie pinched her eyes shut and shook her head. “I can’t imagine even walking in there. Definitely not my sort of place.”
“Mine either,” I said. “But it won’t kill us to go. We can eat cake and drink diet soda.”
“I guess.” Gillian gave me an impish smile. “Just one more thing I can knock off my bucket list. A night at Houston’s most exclusive club.”
“Yippee skippy.” Brianna laughed. “Can’t wait to tell my grandchildren about that.”
When we walked back to the spa, we found Sienna on her phone—of course—talking in an over-the-top voice to someone on the other end about “this ridiculous wedding.”
When she saw us, she stopped talking long enough to glare.
My sister emerged from the massage room just about the time I thought Cassie was going to knock Sienna’s lights out. The cranky maid of honor ended her call and shoved her phone into her purse, then plastered on the fakest smile I’d ever seen.
Crystal had a blissful look on her face. Her eyes filled with tears when she saw the five of us standing together. “Ooh, what a perfect picture. Do you mind?” She fished around in her purse and came out with her phone, then took a photo. “Thank you. I always want to remember the five ladies who gave me such a beautiful gift the day before my wedding.”
Another fake smile followed from Sienna.
“That was so relaxing.” Crystal hadn’t noticed the deception. “It was the perfect way to take a little breather before the rehearsal dinner tonight. I can’t thank you enough.” She reached to give each of us a warm hug. When she got to Sienna, I wanted to say something. Ooh, did I ever want to say something. From the look on Cassie’s face, I could tell she did too.
But we didn’t. We just smiled and watched as the bride hugged her maid of honor and proclaimed this day the best ever. If we kept the peace, it would be the best day ever. I made up my mind right then and there to do whatever it took to keep that radiant smile on the bride’s face. Even if it killed me.
Later that evening we attended the wedding rehearsal at the church, followed by a relaxing BBQ at our house, hosted by my parents. My father was in rare form, joking with everyone as he filled their plates with meat straight off the grill. I could tell Mama was a little stressed at first, what with the Havenhursts being in our home for the first time and all, but everyone seemed to have a great time.
When the rehearsal dinner ended, I headed out with the bridesmaids to the bachelorette party at Valentino’s. We ended up having a great time, eating cake, sipping on diet sodas, and listening to the band. Sienna pulled Crystal out onto the dance floor and we all giggled as they did a silly dance. For the first time in ages, the wayward maid of honor looked comfortable in her role.